Alcaraz shakes off the cobwebs
The Citizen|July 02, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz said Wimbledon's Centre Court is "the most beautiful court that I have played on" after brushing off the cobwebs to beat Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal in the opening match of his title defence.
Alcaraz shakes off the cobwebs

The Spanish third seed was taken to a tie-break in the opening set and trailed 2-0 against his unheralded opponent in the second but held his nerve to win 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-2.

Alcaraz, still only 21, is chasing his fourth Grand Slam title and hopes to become just the sixth man after Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-toback.

"Stepping on this court, the Centre Court of Wimbledon, it is the most beautiful court that I have played on," he said.

"I still get nerves when I am playing here. I played for 45 minutes here on Thursday and it is the first time I get nervous practicing. I'm glad and I am a privileged guy to play on this court."

Denne historien er fra July 02, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 02, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE CITIZENSe alt
Kriel's Springbok dream is still alive
The Citizen

Kriel's Springbok dream is still alive

Bulls utility back David Kriel's dream of playing for the Springboks is still alive and kicking as he targets another strong season for his franchise in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Champions Cup.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 05, 2024
Proteas wrap up ODI series in style
The Citizen

Proteas wrap up ODI series in style

Middle-order batter Tristan Stubbs made an international breakthrough yesterday, compiling his maiden century as the Proteas men's team closed out a superb day for South Africa's national cricket sides.

time-read
1 min  |
October 05, 2024
Broos is at ease with PSL stance
The Citizen

Broos is at ease with PSL stance

Bafanal Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has praised the Premier Soccer League for allowing him more time to prepare his squad for their two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group K qualifiers against Congo-Brazzaville.

time-read
1 min  |
October 05, 2024
Bayern visit bogey side Frankfurt
The Citizen

Bayern visit bogey side Frankfurt

Bayern Munich travel to bogey side Eintracht Frankfurt tomorrow looking to rebound having dropped points twice in the space of a week.

time-read
1 min  |
October 05, 2024
Valjalo on home turf to defend title
The Citizen

Valjalo on home turf to defend title

The date has been set for South Africa's premier Skateboarding contest where the country's best skaters will battle it out to see who will be crowned event champions.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 05, 2024
Muzi ready for Kranji challenge
The Citizen

Muzi ready for Kranji challenge

Joburg Spring Challenge races have attracted top fields.

time-read
7 mins  |
October 05, 2024
Stories from the dot-com era
The Citizen

Stories from the dot-com era

Some compare the high prices of today’s tech giants to the pricing in the stock market back then.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 05, 2024
The Citizen

'We don't want to die'

Over 1000 people killed and hundreds of thousands more flee their homes.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 05, 2024
Heart of nation at stake
The Citizen

Heart of nation at stake

Can a pledge to protect reproductive rights help Kamala Harris become the first woman to win the White Abortion has never been so close to the heart of an American presidential election, but this is the first to be held after access to the procedure was banned or restricted across much of the country, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 05, 2024
Kim ‘ready to nuke all'
The Citizen

Kim ‘ready to nuke all'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country would use nuclear weapons \"without hesitation\" if attacked by the South and ally the United States, state media reported yesterday.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 05, 2024